Thread: RK Utility (Healing)

In an effort to ensure I bring as much utility to the table as a (raid) healer as possible, I've been re-evaluating the utility (read: buffing/debuffing potential) RKs can bring to the table. I'm not including healing utility (and thus healing skills) in this, because, honestly, from a raw healing output, RKs are king. If you're one of the few healing RKs (at least, I hope you'd be one of the few...) that think RKs should have no buffing/debuffing potential at all and utility is unimportant, kindly move onto a different thread .
I don't have a specific question in this thread - more of an assessment and, perhaps, an indirect question as to whether we continue to need more utility (whether in the buffing or debuffing kind), and other people's opinions on the utility we presently provide.

So, we have:
1. Orthanc Set - 1500 critical rating (2.5%) and 400 (slightly less) physical/tactical mitigation. The 1500 crit rating is OK, however I"ve found that the vast majority of raid DPS classes (read: geared to the teeth DPS classes, where morale isn't that important, other than Saruman t2) already have capped or very close to cap critical rating buffed, so the 1500 crit rating an RK provides is less beneficial than what I previously thought. Still beneficial, just not as beneficial, particularly to those classes that have capped crit rating without it.

2. Fall to Wrath - Now, this is a biggie, and it's now an essential part of my healing builds for Orthanc locks 1-4(t2). I have yet to slot it for Saruman t2, as I'm not sure I'm comfortable unslotting either martial training or That Which for that fight until it's on farm. This is our strongest utility skill, in my opinion.

3. Improved Rune-Sign. Single-target buff. The opinion among DPS classes varies, depending on class, as to whether the flat crit % on the storm version (to put a player over the crit cap) or the outgoing damage boost the frost version provides is more beneficial. What I do know, however, is that there's diminishing returns on the frost version for any classes that have over 30K mastery. Most raiding DPS classes have over 30K mastery easy. The frost version generally amounts to <7.9%+ damage for players that have over 30K mastery, and it goes down pretty steadily as you increase in mastery. This is still an excellent skill, but the diminishing returns on the frost rune-sign is disappointing, and for that reason, I'd almost prefer to have it turned into a flat percentage outgoing than split into the mastery + flat % it presently is. Your thoughts?

4. Weapons Shall Not Harm Us - very situational, and only useful for Saruman (well, and f/f trash pulls which is moot; isn't good to use for Iorweth). But, it is, at least, quite useful for Saruman.

5. Mending Verse - 450 mastery. Very small amount of mastery, and I find it difficult to maintain this buff on every DPS class while still having to do normal healing/use other utility skills/etc. Occasionally, when I find I have more time on my hands, I'll try to spread MV around just for the 450 mastery buff... even if it is a small amount. I'm on the fence on this buff, and I'm not sure it's worthwhile maintaining on DPS classes given the amount of time you'd have to spend refreshing it every 15 seconds, just for a mere 450 mastery. Thoughts?

6. TWDNKU - Still trying to find a way to maximize the outgoing damage boost before damage is taken on this one. Generally, the outgoing damage persists a few seconds at most before damage is taken. The best results I've found, so far, is during Bukot in some areas and Iorweth either before or after the initial adds/acid rises phase. Other ideas?

7. Writ of Cold/Fire - If any, I find I use WoC more often while healing than WoF (other than using WoF to switch affinity for something), though I find myself not using WoC often due to power consumption and upkeep needed (and the fact that my resists are higher due to having lower finesse in my healing build). So, while I do try to maintain WoC t3, it's not always feasible, it's very power intensive, and I'm not sure the extra debuff capability is worth it.

8. IPtH - So, while I generally do use PtH while healing, it's not for the power return. I remain skeptical as to whether the power return offered to other players is worth it/very beneficial. Thoughts?

9. DNFTx - Situational, though it's at least beneficial in 3/5 wings of Orthanc.

Am I forgetting anything? Our utility has, more or less, substantially increased with Update 6 from what it was, though the buffing factor is still lacking in my opinion, and the only real feasible debuffing potential we have is Fall to Our Wrath. What I'd like to see, I think, is leaving the buffing potential where it is, but increasing our debuffing potential while healing.
Though, admittedly, the RK is so much stronger than what it once was as a healer, that if we received absolutely no changes at all utility wise, we'd still be in a great place.

Thank you Thymelody, very nice thread. I agree for the most part.

WoC: Power wise you could potentially just use it when at 5 Master of Allusion therefore rending the power cost mute. Though remembering not to use a WoH before casting WoC is pretty damn hard. And in reality all it does is increase attack duration and induction time. Attack duration doesn't mitigate larger dmg. skill attacks from raid content only the time in between their melee attacks. As for the induction time, any descent burg will already have added +75%, so ours is really just a comfort. WoC seems extremely high maintenance for a very insignificant debuff, it also seems that spamming other heals in most situations would be better. Personally I dropped it when they removed the tier down trait.

MV: I honestly thought it was a joke when I read it in the patch notes. You will very rarely use MV as a maintenance heal where a dmg. buff might be in order. You will use it to keep people alive, so when people hit 500 health you are not really looking to buff their dmg.. I have thought about a 100 HP bubble, after all it did use to buff for 560 max. morale even before bubbles were introduced. Alternately the 450 mastery buff be removed from MV to IPtH. 450 mastery will have much more use there, perhaps that is why it is not place there.

I do really love how RKs have moved from a brute healer to awesome heals and buffing. A debuffing skill with low maintenance, maybe even more of an aura would be much appreciated. I do also agree that healing wise it is better than ever, but I am still missing that something, ohh well...

1. Orthanc bonus was great while people were gearing up, still useful, especially with PUGs.

2. Agreed, I usually give up TWDNKU if I want to trait it. My logic is, if I'm alive, I can still spam heal; if i'm dead, TWDNKU wouldn't help.

3. I use both (frost/storm) rune-signs, whichever I'm attuned for. They seem pretty close in effectiveness, and I'm not going to query everyone I play with, so I just hit whatever affinity I'm currently at.

4. I think this skill is still useful, the issue is more that the content doesn't demand it. It is still viable, we just need more places it is helpful.

5. Mediocre at best. Not enough to make a difference, or warrant the time spent on maintenance casts for all the DPS players.

6. I like TWDNKU, and usually take it when going full heals. The damage buff is hit or miss, sometimes everyone gets a great duration, other times it seems like a waste. I do not have any proof or details, but I have definitely witnessed the damage buff sticking through an attack on another player, and running the full duration. Whether this is due to a bubble, Weapon/FangBlade prevention, I really can't say. There is definitely something wrong with it, though.

7. Agreed again on writs, I stick with cold normally, and try to cast for free whenever possible. Power cost is the biggest drawback.

8. Ironically, the power return is best served using iPtH as a self-cast. The return to others is negligible, if you are going to pump power at all, get the caster & the target bonus on yourself.

I rolled #9 into point 4, I see these skills as parallels. Both are useful in certain situations, but not as much as I'd hope to see.

1. Personally I think this is great, it's a free boost to a skill we have active anyway. I guess I see the benifit more, as we seem to be concentrating more on getting various less well geared alts through ToO T1 than attempting T2 where we have had only limited success.

2. I always have this slotted over TWDNKU

3. I think it is unfair to judge a skill only on its ToO t2 merits. The flat + % boost makes sense as it is the normal and improved version, and I think you are overestimating how many people have 30k+ mastery.

4. Again I think you focus to heavily on one raid, the game is much wider than one raid, and their weapons shines in a huge number of places.

5. I agree with your analysis.

6. I don't really slot it.

7. I never really have power problems, but 90% of the time have a bit of extra time, filling this with the writs (with the riffler of writs) is a no brainer for me.

8. I've nver really been sure what to make of PtH since the nerf. Can be good in 3/6 mans with no LM, to keep power hungry classes topped up.

9. Again a great situational skill (and comes up much more often than the minstrels "song of the dead".